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This has been playing on my mind, and wonder if I'll get a genuine or even mixed response here...
On Sunday morning I spent about 4 hours waiting for a shot of a Barn Owl at a new site I had heard about... it's set back maybe 50 yards from a wire fence up against an oak tree.
During that period he showed his face out the box and I snapped a couple of 'peek-a-boo' type photo's, then the owner of the adjacent field (out walking their dog) told me to come back at 5pm as thats when 'she' flies out and goes hunting.
Anyway, whilst sat there a bit longer, another photographer came over (had obviously been here before too)... started talking to me about my camera/lens etc etc usual 'tog chat.
He showed me some of his photo's, which to be honest, were really good!! (certainly on par with some of the crackers I see on here).
He then climbed over the fence and said he was going to get closer, he didn't have a lens like mine so needed to get closer... and 'Don't tell anyone', I said I don't really agree with that, you'll scare them off, don't go there etc etc, but he then said to me "You have to break the rules to get the best shot", at which point he disappeared off through the grasses, to which his 'really good' shots were clearly taken from about 10ft in front of the box.
I waited maybe another another half to 1 hour with no sign of the Owl, so decided to pack up (he was still crouched/sat in front of the box).
I came back at 4, and once again set up in front of the box and waited... and waited... at 5pm, this same tog came back again, said he waited for a couple of extra hours after me and as soon as he climbed back over the fence she flew out and didn't come back... FFS
So I said I guess then she's not in there, you've scared her away and I doubt she is in the box... he climbed over the fence again and said he's going for a close up.
After maybe only another 10 mins I started packing up, so he came back over the fence. I said I'm heading back to my car (under the guise of getting the car out before the car park gets locked).
He said he'd walk back with me. we chatted and I said I don't agree with climbing over, and give them space etc.
As we walked back along the main path, I spotted the Owl out hunting in the field, he was a bit far away, but I thought even a record shot is better than nothing.... this other chap then disappeared off through a broken fence onto the field
I said I wasn't going with him and headed off on the path myself - I actually set up camp maybe another 50 yards away and snapped a couple of shots across the field.
View attachment 33546 View attachment 33547
(Click)
So, what I wondered, was (if it's not too a controversial question), to what degree do you believe it's ok to get the 'good shots'?
Where do you draw the line?
On Sunday morning I spent about 4 hours waiting for a shot of a Barn Owl at a new site I had heard about... it's set back maybe 50 yards from a wire fence up against an oak tree.
During that period he showed his face out the box and I snapped a couple of 'peek-a-boo' type photo's, then the owner of the adjacent field (out walking their dog) told me to come back at 5pm as thats when 'she' flies out and goes hunting.
Anyway, whilst sat there a bit longer, another photographer came over (had obviously been here before too)... started talking to me about my camera/lens etc etc usual 'tog chat.
He showed me some of his photo's, which to be honest, were really good!! (certainly on par with some of the crackers I see on here).
He then climbed over the fence and said he was going to get closer, he didn't have a lens like mine so needed to get closer... and 'Don't tell anyone', I said I don't really agree with that, you'll scare them off, don't go there etc etc, but he then said to me "You have to break the rules to get the best shot", at which point he disappeared off through the grasses, to which his 'really good' shots were clearly taken from about 10ft in front of the box.
I waited maybe another another half to 1 hour with no sign of the Owl, so decided to pack up (he was still crouched/sat in front of the box).
I came back at 4, and once again set up in front of the box and waited... and waited... at 5pm, this same tog came back again, said he waited for a couple of extra hours after me and as soon as he climbed back over the fence she flew out and didn't come back... FFS
So I said I guess then she's not in there, you've scared her away and I doubt she is in the box... he climbed over the fence again and said he's going for a close up.
After maybe only another 10 mins I started packing up, so he came back over the fence. I said I'm heading back to my car (under the guise of getting the car out before the car park gets locked).
He said he'd walk back with me. we chatted and I said I don't agree with climbing over, and give them space etc.
As we walked back along the main path, I spotted the Owl out hunting in the field, he was a bit far away, but I thought even a record shot is better than nothing.... this other chap then disappeared off through a broken fence onto the field
I said I wasn't going with him and headed off on the path myself - I actually set up camp maybe another 50 yards away and snapped a couple of shots across the field.
View attachment 33546 View attachment 33547
(Click)
So, what I wondered, was (if it's not too a controversial question), to what degree do you believe it's ok to get the 'good shots'?
Where do you draw the line?